On the whole, the institutions of the Brethren among the heathen deserve very high commendation. This little company have given a lead to the whole christian world. What they have accomplished is almost incredible. In the words of another, I may add, "Had the rest of the Protestant world been equally active and equally successful with the Moravians since the year 1732, the night of Paganism would now be past."* There would be employed 531,250 missionaries, who would have under their care 188,125,000 converts; and allowing that only twice as many hear the Gospel as receive it, nearly the whole pagan world would come within its sound. Even now, if the whole body of protestant Christians were to rouse themselves to the exertions which distinguish these unassuming and almost unknown men, there would be within one year a missionary to less than every thousand souls; or, in other words, the world would be converted.

* Recorder, Vol. III. p. 13.

1

PART VI.

PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIANITY BY THE METHO DISTS.

CHAPTER I.

WEST INDIES..

Mission commenced by Dr. Coke-Antigua-Dominica -St. Vincents--St. Christophers--St. Eustatius-Nevis-Tortola-Jamaica-Opposition of the gov ernment-Missionaries persecuted-Present state of the missions.

THE exertions of the Wesleyan Methodists were first directed to the West Indies. The mission had its origin, principally, with Dr. Coke, who, after commenc ing it without the patronage of any Society, maintained it for a long time by his personal exertions, sub mitting even to the drudgery of charity, and gratuitously pleaded the cause of a perishing world from door to door.

ANTIGUA. Dr. Coke, accompanied by three other Methodist preachers, sailed from England in the Autumn of 1786, for Nova-Scotia. By stress of weather,. they were driven to the West Indies; and as their object was missionary they concluded to commence their operations there. They landed on Antigua. Something had before been done on this Island. So early as 1760, Nathaniel Gilbert Esq., speaker of the House of Assembly in Antigua, having himself been impressed with divine truth while on a visit to England, made

considerable exertion to promote the interest of religion at home. His first attempts were confined to a few persons, whom he collected at his own house on the Lord's day; but afterwards, he proceeded to preach in public, not only to the white people, but to the negro slaves. In this he persevered, though his conduct, so singular and unexampled, brought on him a load of ignominy, until he had the pleasure of uniting about two hundred of his hearers into a Christian society. Over these he continued to watch with the tenderness and solicitude of a father; but in the midst of his usefulness, he was removed by death from this scene of action.

After his decease, for near twenty years, no one was found to supply his place. At length, Mr. John Baxter, in the Methodist connexion, having come to Antigua as a ship-wright in the service of government, commenced preaching. He collected the scattered remnants of Mr. Gilbert's congregation, and increased it so much that at the end of five years it amounted to about one thousand members. The conduct of some, however, but poorly corresponded with their profes

sion.

On the arrival of Dr. Coke, Mr. Baxter agreed to leave a lucrative situation which he held on the island, and devote himself, with Mr. Warrener, one of the preachers originally destined for Nova Scotia, to the work of the ministry. Since that time, the Methodist Society, though subject to considerable variation, has been more or less on the increase. It consisted, in 1815, of 2737 members. In Barbuda, a small island near Antigua, the work of God is very promising.*

DOMINICA. Dr. Coke, when he had settled the mission in Antigua, sailed for Dominica. He there prepared the way for a missionary, who was sent about two years after, and collected in a short time one hundred and fifty negroes into a society. Success so animated the missionary, that he fell a victim to ex

* Miss. Reg. Vol. III. p. 623.

cessive exertion. Another who was sent some time after to fill the vacancy, found some of the hopeful converts stedfast in the truth. He soon gathered, at Prince Rupert's Bay, a society of several hundred.. This has continued to flourish, though the extreme un. healthiness of the situation has destroyed many mis. sionaries, and frequently left the society destitute. Its members in 1815, were seven hundred and nine negroes, and one white person.

ST. VINCENTS. This mission was commenced in 1787. The first attempt was to establish a school among the Caribs, or natives. The legislature of the island gave an estate to support the institution. But the Catholic priests from Martinico infused such suspicions into the minds of this ignorant people, of the missionaries being spies, that it was found necessary to withdraw from among them. With the negroes they were more successful. They soon collected such num. bers of these poor objects, as to recompense for their failure with the Caribs. But the legislature, which had at first patronised them, now passed a law prohibiting them under the severest penalties from preaching to the negroes. The first transgression was a fine, the second, corporal punishment and banishment, and in case of return, death! In consequence of this Act, Mr. Lumb, the missionary, was thrown into pris

on.

His friends offered to pay the fine, but he would give no countenance to such an infamous law. Happily the Act was disallowed by the government at home, so that it remained in force but a short time. Since then, no material impediment has obstructed the progress of the mission. The number belonging to the congregations, in 1812, was 2370.

ST. CHRISTOPHERS. Dr. Coke visited this island in 1787. Mr. Hammel, a Methodist preacher, accompani ed him, remained on the island, and soon gathered a small society, which has since greatly increased. From its first establishment, the mission has enjoyed an almost uninterrupted course of prosperity. The Soci

ety, in 1804, consisted of 3017, which is a greater number than it has had at any other period.

ST. EUSTATIUS. The first visit of Dr. Coke to St. Eustatius was in 1787. The government forbid his preaching, but he instructed the slaves in small companies from morning to night, for about eighteen days, in the house of a free black with whom he lodged. The following year, he renewed his visit, but was threatened with imprisonment, and was obliged to retire. It seems that after his departure, the Governor cruelly persecuted a certain slave, who endeavoured to instruct his countrymen; and, at length, caused him to be sold to the captain of a Spanish ship. Every effort to establish a mission was unsuccessful, until the island fell into the hands of the British. Permission was then granted to preach the Gospel, and the missionaries soon united several negroes into a society. There number in 1816, was 363.

NEVIS. Dr. Coke left a missionary on this island, in 1785. The planters at first opposed the instruction of their slaves, but by degrees they became more reconciled. A respectable society of negroes was formed in Charleston, the capital of the Island. The planters began to admit the missionaries to their estates. The effect soon became visible. The Sabbath, which throughout the West Indies is the common market day, began to be observed. Many of the white people shut up their shops and stores, to attend on Divine worship, and the negroes who used to occupy the day in dancing, and drinking, and fighting, came in crowds to hear the word of God, and sing his praise. In 1804, the members in the connexion were 1414.

TORTOLA AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. The mission established by Dr. Coke in 1788, did not flourish at first, though commenced under favourable auspices. The first appearance of the negroes was such as to promise an easy access with the gospel; but, as in other places, they were found to be stupid and sensual. At length a society was formed, a chapel